The Elder Scrolls Online is finally getting cross-play for Xbox, PC, and PlayStation — but don’t expect it to arrive soon

A screenshot from The Elder Scrolls Online showing three people running toward an armed figure throwing ghostly red skulls.
(Image credit: Bethesda / Microsoft)

Developer ZeniMax Online Studios shared a barrage of information on Wednesday for The Elder Scrolls Online, detailing what players can expect as the long-running title fully shifts to a seasonal model and changes a fair bit over the coming year.

Ahead of today’s news, I attended a Q&A with some members of ZeniMax Online Studios. In addition to a roadmap of more immediate improvements across 2026, executive producer Susan Kath confirmed that, at long last, cross-play is in the works for The Elder Scrolls Online, stating that there is a dedicated team working on the feature.

The Elder Scrolls Online - 2026 Reveal - YouTube The Elder Scrolls Online - 2026 Reveal - YouTube
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The Elder Scrolls Online first kicked off all the way back in 2014 on PC, with console versions arriving later in 2015. As a result, it was never designed around cross-play, and Kath freely admits that figuring it all out is a “difficult” process. In addition to just figuring out the technical side of the feature, there’s also the community aspect to handle.

With players limited by platform, The Elder Scrolls Online has various communities and Guilds split across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC/Mac.

A challenge worth tackling

I don’t envy the developers at ZeniMax Online Studios as they try to figure out how cross-play will work, but ultimately, it’s a huge feature that the game will be better off having.

Cross-play and cross-progression are fundamental features in multiplayer titles now, with players (myself included) chafing at restrictions or being unable to take characters and progress wherever they go.

There are a lot of changes coming to The Elder Scrolls Online, and I’m excited to see how the game grows and adapts over the next several months.

The Elder Scrolls Online is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Mac. It’s also included in Xbox Game Pass.

The Elder Scrolls Online (PC Key)
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Jump into a fantasy world and explore its enchanting locations while defeating powerful enemies and getting better gear.


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Samuel Tolbert
Freelance Writer

Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Bluesky ‪@samueltolbert.bsky.social‬.

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